Piano action



Dec. 23, 1941. F. c. SOCIN PIANO ACTION R SSS d J Filed March 13, 1941Patented Dec. 23, 1941 PIANO ACTION Francis C. Socin, St. Charles, 111.,assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation Application March 13, 1941 Serial No. 383,099

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a piano action, particularly to that type ofaction applicable to use in a so-called grand piano.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified actionsuch as may lower the cost of production over the present conventionalgrand piano action, and at the same time requiring less overhead spaceso as to permit the construction of a grand piano embodying such actionapproximately two inches lower from the top of the keybed to the top ofthe rim. The efliciency of the action, both as to repetition and generalfunction is not sacrificed in attaining such advantages.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the completeelimination of the conventional repetition lever. In its place there isprovided a new type of jack, which combines the function of theconventional jack and the conventional repetition lever. This isaccomplished by so forming and mounting the jack as to cause its returnunder the hammer butt before the hammer returns to its position of rest.As a result thereof, such jack performs in addition to its usualfunction, the same function as the conventional repetition lever in theusual piano action. In this connection it may be noted that the let-ofiscrew and regulating button both function in connection with the jackacting in the capacity of a combination jack and repetition lever. Thisconstruction reduces the number of parts of the action, simplifies itsregulation, and renders it more compact, all without impairing theefficiency of the action.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawing and the following description and claim:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the unit action. Fig. 2 is an enlargedside elevation of the jack and a portion of the wippen with parts brokenaway. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2 on a reduced scale showing a modifiedform of spring. Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3, showing a second modifiedform of spring.

In the drawing there is shown for illustrative purposes one unit of apiano action mounted upon the piano keybed l0. Supported upon the keybedthere is shown a natural piano key H pivotally supported upon thebalance rail l2 and provided with recesses for receiving the guide pinl3 and the balance pin 14. Toward the operating end of the key there isprovided the usual capstan screw I5 positioned to engage the cushionedprojection I 6 extending downwardly from the wippen l1.

The wippen H is pivoted at 18 to the flange l9 secured upon the flangerail 20, said flange rail being rigidly supported upon the keybed Ill.At the free end of the wippen, a jack 2! is pivotally mounted at 22. Thejack is provided with a head portion having a cushion 23 and a heelportion indicated at 24. It is further provided with a tail indicated'at25, its pivotal mounting 22 being arranged immediately below the headportion and at a substantial distance forwardly from the rear end of thetail portion.

Immediately above the wippen and jack there is located the usual hammerlever 26 having a hammer 21 on its free end and pivoted at 28 to aflange 29 at its opposite end and above the head portion of the jack.The flange 29 is supported upon and secured to the action rail 39. Theflange 29 is also provided, adjacent its pivotal connection with thehammer lever, with an adjustable let-ofi screw 3|. Also above the jackthe hammer lever is provided with a recessed cushioned hammer butt 32.The hammer lever has mounted thereon at a position above the tail end ofthe jack, a cushion regulating button 33. The wippen is provided with acushion 34 directly below the intermediate portion of the hammer leverand a slotted end to form bifurcated ears between which the reducedportion of the jack extends so that it may rock about its pivotalmounting on the wippen between the bifurcated ends and within therecessed portion thereof, there being positioned within the wippen acushion 35 against which the tail end of the jack bears. Also securedwithin the recessed portion of the wippen at 35 there is a spring 3!which curves upwardly into bearing relation with the recessed portion inthe forward end of the jack head.

The relative arrangement and positions of the above described parts aresuch that the heel 24 of the jack head is adapted to engage the hammerbutt 32 when the wippen is actuated, and the tail portion 25 of the jackis adapted to engage with the regulating button 33 and be cushioned bythe cushion 35. The action of the jack is effected by contact of thecushion 23 with the let-off screw 3!. The relative movement of theseparts and elements, as between the jack and hammer lever upon actuationof the wippen, is such as to perform the combined function of theconventional jack and. the conventional repetition lever.

At the rear end of the piano key there is pro- 5 vided the usual backcheck 38 extending upwardly from the key to a position adjacent thehammer. Also the rear end of the key is provided with the usual cushion39 for engagement with a damper lever 40 upon which the damper M ispivotally mounted through a damper arm 42 and in position to normallyrest upon the piano string 43 against which the hammer 21 is adapted toimpinge. The damper lever 40 is pivotally connected to a flange 44secured to the back rail 45.

In the striking operation, the free end of the wippen will be movedupwardly, carrying the jack therewith. The heel 24 of the jack, being inengagement with the hammer butt, will throw the hammer upwardly towardsthe string in striking position therewith. During the upward movement ofthe jack, th'e head 2| will engage the let-off screw 3|, tilting thejack forwardly about its pivotal mounting 22 on the wippen so as to holdthe heel 24 forwardly of the hammer butt and permit the free rebound ofthe hammer. However, upon the rebound of the hammer, the regulatingbutton 33 will engage the tail end 25 of the jack and thereby return itto its normal position upon the cushion 35. This return movement of thejack to repetition position is further assisted by the spring 31. r

In the modified form shown in Fig. 3, the jack I25 is provided with ahead l2I positioned for engagement with the let-off screw I3I. It isalso provided with the heel I24 extending into operative engagement withthe hammer butt I32. In this construction the spring I31 is pivotedintermediate its ends to the hammer butt so that one free end bearsagainst-the regulating button 33 and the other free end against the tailportion of the jack I25 so that after the striking action, theregulating button through the tension of the spring I31 will immediatelyreturn the jack to its normal striking position for ready repetition ofthe action.

In the modified form of Fig. 4 the jack 225 is provided with a head ofslightly different form indicated at 22I and having the heel portion 224initially and normally bearing against the hammer butt 232. In thisarrangement a spring 231 has one end secured to the hammer butt and theother free end bearing under spring tension upon the end of the tailportion of the jack 225. This arrangement similarly acts to quicklyreturn the jack to its initial position for repetition of the action.

The invention claimed is:

1. A piano action including a piano key, a supporting frame for saidkey, a wippen extending over and spaced above said key and provided witha downwardly-extending projection intermediate its ends positioned to bestruck thereby, said wippen being pivotally mounted on said frame at oneend thereof and carrying a pivotally mounted jack on its free end, ahammer lever extending above said wippen and jack with one end pivotedon said frame adjacent thereto, said lever carrying thereon a hammerbutt and a regulating button, and a let-off screw adjustably mounted onsaid frame adjacent the pivoted end of said lever, said jack comprisinga head portion having a heel for engagement with the hammer butt and aforwardly extending portion for engagement with said let-off screw, saidjack also including a tail portion positioned for engagement by saidregulating button, whereby actuation of said wippen will cause said jackto actuate the hammer through the heel portion thereof and be disengagedupon engagement of the let-off screw for permitting rebound of thehammer and be returned to normal position by the regulating buttonengaging the tail portion thereof.

2. A piano action including a piano key, a supporting frame for saidkey, a wippen pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said frame andprovided with a projection intermediate its ends positioned to be struckby said key, a hammer lever having a hammer on its free end andpivotally supported on said frame at its other end to extend above andbe struck by said wippen, a jack pivotally mounted upon the free end ofsaid wippen, said jack being provided with a tail portion and headhaving a heel and a forwardly extending portion, the tail portionextending over the wippen, a hammer butt on said hammer lever positionedto be engaged by the heel, a let-off screw on said frame adjacent thepivotal mounting of the hammer lever positioned to be engaged by saidforwardly extending portion, and a regulating button on said hammerlever positioned to engage the tail portion of the jack upon releasethereof.

3. A piano action including a piano key, a frame upon which said key issupported, a wippen pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said frameand provided with a projection intermediate its ends positioned to bestruck by said key, a hammer lever having a hammer on its free end andpivotally supported on said frame at its other end to extend above saidwippen, a

jack pivotally mounted upon the free end of said wippen, said jack beingprovided with a tail portion and head having a heel and a forwardlyextending portion, the tail portion extending over the wippen, a hammerbutt on said hammer lever positioned to be initially engaged by the heelto activate said lever, a let-off screw on said frame adjacent thepivotal mounting of the hammer lever positioned to be engaged by saidforwardly extending portion, a regulating button on said hammer leverpositioned to engage the tail portion of the jack upon release thereof,and a spring mounted on said lever to engage said jack under springtension for returning it after actuation to normal position forrepetition of the action.

4. A piano action including a frame, a wippen pivoted at one endthereof, a piano key supported on said frame in position to engage andactuate said wippen, a hammer lever pivotally supported at one end tosaid frame and having a regulating button and a hammer butt thereon, alet-off screw on said frame adjacent the pivoted mounting of said hammerlever, and a jack pivotally supported upon the free end of said wippenhaving a head positioned to engage said let-ofi? screw upon actuation ofsaid key, said head including a heel engageable with said hammer buttfor imparting initial action to said hammer lever, said jack beingfurther provided with a tail portion extending in position to be engagedby said regulating button upon said heel being withdrawn from engagementwith the hammer butt through engagement thereof with the let-01f screw,the jack being returned to normal position by the rebound of the hammerlever through engagement of its tail portion by said regulating button.

1 FRANCIS C. SOCIN.

